Europeum

Policy Brief | Were Czech industrial policy interests reflected in EU 2024-2029 strategic agenda discussions?

June 27, 2024

In light of the recent return of industrial policy to the global and EU stage, this policy brief outlines how Czech interests in this policy were reflected in the debates leading up to the adoption of 2024-2029 EU strategic agenda. First, it strives to define Czech industrial policy interests, outlining two alternative approaches to how they can be perceived. The liberal approach follows the long established consensus, according to which Czechia – as a very open, export oriented economy – should promote above all a seamless Single Market and free trade. Writes EUROPEUM Institute researcher Klára Votavová in her Policy Brief.

Aktuálně.cz | Fragmented Czech Regions Need Reform

June 25, 2024

In the autumn, regional council elections will be held. The existence of 14 regions in the Czech Republic, however, does not have a long tradition – they were only established in 2000, partly due to the anticipated entry into the European Union. This arrangement is now heavily criticized for their fragmentation, low and duplicative administrative capacities, and the associated negative impacts on the state budget. Klára Votavová, a researcher at EUROPEUM Institute, presents in her commentary on research on the capacities of the state and regions to draw from the Just Transition Fund, using the examples of the Karlovy Vary and Moravian-Silesian regions.

TV Nova | Personnel Changes in European Institutions

June 17, 2024

After the European elections, institutions in Brussels are facing personnel changes. Who is likely to assume the most important positions, namely the the head of the European Council, the European Commission, and the European Parliament? Vít Havelka, senior researcher at EUROPEUM Institute, commented on this in the main evening broadcast on TV Nova.

ČRo Plus | EU leaders discuss key positions. The favorites are von der Leyen, Costa, and Kallas

June 17, 2024

On Monday 17 June, the leaders of the European Union Member States headed to Brussels for their first joint meeting after the European Parliament elections. They discussed the distribution of key posts at the head of the EU institutions - the President of the European Commission, the European Council and the European Parliament. Filip Křenek, project coordinator and analyst at EUROPEUM Institute, commented on the likely distribution of forces for ČRo Plus.

RTVS | EU leaders discussed the new European Commission

June 17, 2024

On Monday, June 17, an informal meeting of the 27 member states of the European Union took place. Their leaders discussed the nominations of members for the new European Commission. Ursula von der Leyen will also have to compete for her position as President of the European Commission again. Viktor Daněk, Deputy Director of EUROPEUM Institute, discussed her chances on the Slovak television RTVS.

Czech radio | The battle for EU leadership will start after the elections

June 03, 2024

The elections are not the end of the fight for the very leadership of the European Union. The coming weeks and months will decide the new leadership of the European Commission, the European Council, and the European Parliament. What will follow? Deputy Director and Head of the Brussels Office of EUROPEUM Institute, Žiga Faktor, answered questions for Czech Radio stations Radiožurnál and Plus.

TV Nova | Brussels will deal with the enlargement of the Union. Among the candidates are Turkey or Ukraine

May 30, 2024

The elections to the European Parliament are less than a week away, and one of the main topics that Brussels will have to deal with in the coming years is the enlargement of the European Union. A total of nine countries are waiting to join the EU, but according to experts, rapid expansion is unlikely. The President of the European Council, Charles Michel, talks about the possibility of enlargement until 2030, which requires reforms from both the candidate countries and the Union itself. Jana Juzová, researcher at EUROPEUM Institute, commented on the situation for TV Nova.

ČRo | Czech Republic abstains in the final vote on the migration pact

May 14, 2024

The Migration Pact heads to its final vote in the Council of Ministers. The Czech Republic will abstain in this final vote. What is the process of approval within the European Union? What led to the change of position? And what are the implications for the EU of the just-approved migration pact? Viktor Daněk, Deputy Director of EUROPEUM Institute, comments for Czech Radio.

TA3 | Results of the extraordinary summit in Brussels

April 19, 2024

At the extraordinary summit of European Council in Brussels, the original economic debates quickly turned to serious geopolitical issues, such as the extension of sanctions against Iran and the strengthening of Ukrainian air defenses. However, as pointed out by Vít Havelka for Slovakian TA3, an analyst at the EUROPEUM Institute, there is no fundamental shift in the EU's approach to countries such as Russia, Israel or Iran.

BLOG | The Use of Article 7 as a Protection Tool for the Rule of Law and European Values

April 19, 2024

With Hungary taking over the EU presidency in July 2024, many are questioning the EU's ability to promote its values in its member states. Indeed, the EU is about to hand over its presidency to a state that has been criticised for its actions that threaten the rule of law and is subject to the procedure set out in Article 7 of the Treaty on European Union (TEU), writes Maxime Painot in his blog.